Verse 1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
This epistle or letter from Paul the apostle establishes that he is including Timothy as a contributor to the information that is going to be shared with the church at Colosse. The introduction contains the now familiar wish and prayer for “grace and peace” to be given to the church. Note that, unlike churches today in the West, all the churches in the various epistles do not have names. It is just the church at Colosse, or at Philipi, or at Corinth. Why is that so? Possibly because the church is not a building or a place. It consists of the people that trust and serve the LORD. All the believers have their own names, both the ones used here on Earth and the ones given to them and recorded in Heaven. Revelation 2:17 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” So each church is acknowledged by its location. Since the believers met in homes at various locations in and around the city, all the small groups were the church.
Application: How simple the original God given structure and function was of the apostolic church. How complicated today’s religious establishment churches have become with their 501C3 corporation status, their building programs, their salaried staff, their lighting and sound systems, their weekly bulletins, their news letters, their TV and radio programs, their entertainment events, and the the list goes on. Consider what the early church accomplished in spreading the Gospel to the known world (verse 6 below) and compare it to what the establishment churches accomplish today. Perhaps a return to doing things simply and in the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ would bear more fruit and save more souls from eternal damnation. Just a thought.
Verse 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Paul never started a church or visited a church and then moved on and forgot it. He always thanked God for it and prayed for it on a regular basis.
Application: Believers can be fairly consistent in praying for friends and family and difficult situations such as sickness or loss, but do we remember to pray for the church? We should be thanking God daily, not just for the local body of believers that we may be associated with, but for the church everywhere. Many countries are actively persecuting believers by destroying their places of worship, destroying their homes, confiscating their money and arresting, jailing or even killing men, women and children. Think about your prayers and consider taking the time to pray for the believers you do not know that are one day going to be sharing Heaven with you.
Verse 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
The word “saints” means holy ones. To be holy means to be set apart. To be set apart means to not be with the crowd but to be with Jesus. The church at Colosse was known for its love of all saints. They did not take a denominational stand and exclude believers that may not be quite like them, or that may not be understanding the scriptures and worshiping in their image of how it should be done. Their love was so huge that Paul and Timothy had heard about it. And if they had heard about the love these believers had for the saints, others would have heard about it too.
Application: Ask yourself the following question. “When I die, will I be remembered by my friends, family and community because of how I loved people?”
Verses 5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
What is the “hope that is laid up for you in heaven” referred to by Paul in the above verses? Believers have only one hope and that is the resurrection from the dead of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our hope. Because Jesus rose again and ascended into Heaven, so shall each believer have the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Jesus. Notice that it appears the church in Colosse had heard the gospel before Paul penned this epistle. Also note that Paul states that the gospel is in all the world at the time of this writing.
Verses 7-8 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Epaphras was a teacher in that the people at Colosse learned from him, and like all good teachers, he apparently bragged about them to Paul and Timothy. He was a servant teacher, one who doesn’t expect anything in return other than the joy of seeing people learn about Jesus.
Application: We, as believers, are also servant teachers. Perhaps you have never thought about yourself in this manner. However, every time you talk about Jesus and the things of God to your children, you are teaching and being a servant to God. Every time you tell someone about Jesus for the first time, you are teaching that person about Jesus and being a servant to God. Every time you stand up in the church and give your testimony, you are teaching about Jesus and being a servant to God. Every time you are around other people in the community and behave in a righteous manner, you are teaching about Jesus and being a servant to God. You are being an Epaphras.
Verses 9-11 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
The above verses show the believer what the Lord’s expectations are for daily living. Believers are to be filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding or they cannot know His will. How does one get wisdom and understanding? By reading the Bible, meditating on what was read, and acting upon the information. Everything a person ever wanted to know is recorded in the pages of the Bible. But to find the information, the believer has to search the scriptures and really study what is discovered. Casual scripture readings will not give understanding or wisdom.
Application: The believer needs to add to his scripture study times of prayer in which the verses read are discussed with God. He will clarify any confusion or lack of understanding that may occur when studying the Bible. Then the believer will see the will of God revealed in the scriptures and be able to apply that information to daily living.
Acquiring Godly wisdom and spiritual understanding will allow the believer to walk worthy of the LORD’s care, grace and mercy and to be fruitful. Good works will follow a disciplined prayer and Bible study regimen. The believer will trust more and more in the spiritual power of God and less and less in their own abilities.
Verses 12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
It is God who makes us suitable (meet) to be part of His family with the rest of the holy ones (saints) who are in His presence, which is light, as opposed to the power of the demonic world which is darkness. To be “translated” means to be moved from one place or condition to another. Even though believers are alive on this Earth in the boundaries of time and space, their spirit and soul is able to access the Kingdom of God which is not bound by time and space.
Verses 14-15 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
The word “redemption” means deliverance or liberation procured by the payment of a ransom. In other words, it is through the shedding of Jesus’ blood that the debt of each person’s sin is paid and, therefore, God sees each person as forgiven when they accept the gift of salvation offered by the Lord Jesus Christ.
In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.” Then in John 14:9 Jesus stated, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Jesus claimed to be God. To understand that, it is first necessary to remember that there is only one God or one Almighty. He is Spirit. But He manifests or shows Himself in three main ways. He is not a “trinity,” as taught by most churches, or three gods in one. As Spirit, He is omnipresent or everywhere at once. He is the LORD or the Father. Then He chose to inhabit a human body so that believers could experience and relate to Him easily and so that He could die on the cross and be the substitute blood sacrifice for sin. That body was named Jesus and was the only begotten son of God because it was the only human body in which God chose to live and work in the limitations of time and space. When Jesus was crucified, God did not die. The human body He was in died. God cannot die. He is a spirit and eternal. When Jesus died, He gave up the ghost or His spirit which now is known as the comforter promised to believers by Jesus before His ascension into Heaven. That Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit (interchangeable terms) lives in each believer (omnipresent) and teaches, guides, and comforts them while they remain here on the Earth. Once again, there are not three gods in one and the Bible does not teach a “trinity.” Therefore, Jesus was and is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Jesus was and is God, very God.
Verse 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The word “thrones” pertains to kings and kingly power or royalty. The word “dominions” means power, lordship or one who possesses dominion. The word “principalities” can mean the rule of angels and demons and/or princely ranks, dignities or jurisdictions. The word “powers” means authority or someone whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed. So it seems that all forms of governance both in the heavens and on the earth were designed by Jesus. All things must include everything listed in the book of Genesis during creation (light, heaven, seas, planets, stars, earth, fish, birds and earth dwelling critters), all the cycles that exist in time and space that include the seasons, the calendar, the clock, the cycle of life in man and creatures, the seasons, etc., and those systems we cannot access or see in the spiritual realm. And it seems that all things created by Jesus were for His pleasure, including you and me.
Application: Man, through science and the scientific method, has made discoveries through the ages that have added to our knowledge in many ways, but his discoveries are only revealing the creative genius of the Lord Jesus Christ. Man cannot create. He can only find that which has already been created and use it in various ways. He can build new machines and use new materials to do so, but the materials were manufactured using elements that are already in existence and given to us by God. Man’s creative powers come from the LORD because man was made in His image and He is the creator. Any new ideas are also from Him because He controls everything that is in Heaven and in the Earth. That should be a comfort when it seems that the governing powers and the things of this world are out of control due to sin and due to demonic influence.
Verse 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Jesus is God and He is eternal, without beginning and without ending and therefore is before all things. The pronoun “is” puts this fact in the present tense. Paul does not say, “was before all things.” When you and I are dead and buried and no longer on this Earth, Jesus will still be present and holding all things together by His power and authority and His word. He is King. He is LORD. He is royalty, all powerful, and someone whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed.
Verses 18-19 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Paul equates the Christian church with a human body in 1Corinthians chapter 12 in that the human body has many parts that play different roles and have different functions and that are all necessary for a healthy, functioning body. Likewise the church has many people in it that have different roles and functions and that are all necessary for a healthy, functioning church. In the church, Jesus Christ is the head and must have preeminence. If a human body is decapitated, it dies. The brain controls and manages all the functions of every organ system in the human body. When a church fails to keep Jesus as the head or leader and fails to give Him preeminence, it looses its mission and purpose and dies also. Leadership can become corrupt and the body drifts apart and becomes like sheep without a shepherd. It becomes ineffective in the spiritual Kingdom of God. Today, many churches are nothing more than social gathering places for lukewarm believers.
Paul states that, “it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” The word “fullness” refers to something being filled up. For the New Testament believers this can mean that they are filled with the presence, power, agency, and riches of God and of Christ. They are filled up with the Holy Ghost and lack nothing for their walk with the LORD. He gives them the faith to believe both in Him and in His promises, gives them counsel through His word, gives them provision and protection in this world, gives them direction in their life, gives them peace in times of turmoil and trouble, gives them healings and supernatural miracles, gives them wisdom and courage, gives them joy, and gives them hope for today, tomorrow and eternity. Because all things are held together by Jesus, He fills all things with His presence and His power. What an awesome God we serve!
Verse 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The word “reconcile” means to bring back to a former state of harmony. Before sin entered the world through Adam, all things were good in the eyes of God and all things would have been in harmony with His creation plan. God, man and creation all lived in harmony together. Sin interrupted this harmony and we can see all around us the disharmony in people, places and things. Jesus Christ’s death and shedding of blood on the cross paid the price for sin and therefore allowed harmony back into the earth and the heavens. Jesus provided reconciliation for a lost and dying world. It is there for the taking by repenting of sin, receiving Baptism and allowing the Holy Ghost to live in the heart and mind. Believers sense that reconciliation and can experience peace even when there seems to be no peace. The Christian parents by the hospital bed of a dying child can sense the presence of God and have peace that He is in control and their child will go to be with Him for eternity. The high school or college student can experience peace when facing exams because they have harmony of spirit with Jesus Christ and are trusting Him for help in passing the tests. The single mother who has just lost her job can have peace that all things will work out for her good because she places her trust in the LORD. According to scripture, one day Jesus will return and make all things new and full reconciliation will occur and full harmony will be the normal as it was in the beginning in the garden of Eden when there was no sin.
Verses 21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
James 4:4 states, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” So joining in the sin of this world makes a person God’s enemy. According to Paul, the Colossian church members, through their wicked works, were once enemies of God and then, through Jesus Christ’s death, they were reconciled and brought back to a former state of harmony with their Creator God so that they were no longer enemies, but holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.
Application: A sinful person does not need to get their life straightened out before they can be reconciled to God. They only need to have a change of heart and want to be in harmony with their Creator. A truly repentant heart is what God sees and wants. After accepting the gift of salvation from the LORD, life changes will happen so that the person no longer wants the sinful life. The person becomes a new person and the old life passes away and a new life begins with Jesus. All the sins of the past are forgotten and will never be brought up again by the LORD. The new believer is now holy or set apart from this world and the sin that permeates it. The new believer will not be blamed for the past and will never be scolded for it. The new believer is now free from sin, the death it produces, and from eternity in Hell. All it takes is a change of heart.
Verse 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Most establishment churches today teach the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” Therefore, if a believer falls away from the faith and stops attending church and enters into sinful behaviors, the general attitude is that the believer was never saved (a Christian) in the first place. Yet scripture does not seem to confirm this doctrine. The verse above is a continuation of verses 21 and 22 and is clearly saying that in order to be holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God a believer must continue (a choice and an act of the will) to believe in Jesus and the Gospel and be so grounded in the truth of scripture that he will not move away from it and abandon Jesus and His church and go back to the things of this world. Paul says that these believers were indeed reconciled by the blood of Christ. Therefore they were in a state of harmony with Him which means they were saved. As you study the Bible, look for verses that teach that the gift of salvation by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is just that: a gift which can be received and then returned by the person to whom it was given. You decide.
Application: My Catholic friends often joked about going to confession on the weekend and then sinning during the week. They truly believed that once they were part of the Catholic church they would go to Heaven regardless of their unrighteous behaviors here on Earth. They believed that all they had to do was go to confession and the Catholic priest hearing their list of sins would forgive them and then they could go out of his presence and resume their lifestyle as before. They believed that once they were saved, that salvation was permanent regardless of whether their thoughts, their words, or their actions were contrary to Biblical teachings. This attitude is not confined to Catholicism, but can be seen in many individuals claiming to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in the modern Christian establishment churches. All believers need to take the time to examine their lives on a regular basis to see if there is any sin that needs to be repented of and forsaken and to make sure that they are in right relationship or harmony with the LORD.
Verses 24-25 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul states that he is rejoicing in his sufferings which were visible in his body due to all the beatings, stoning and other punishments he received at the hands of the angry Jewish religious leaders of his time. Galatians 6:17 states, “From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Where ever Paul went and preached the Gospel, he was met with resistance and he suffered physically because of this resistance. Yet he persevered for the sake of the ‘body’ or the church. He was a minister and his job was to ‘fulfill the word of God’ which he did without complaint or regret.
Application: Unfortunately, today’s believers in the West have been spared, for the most part, persecution from religious establishments and governments. I do not know of any Christian that has ever been beaten or killed in my area. So when there is no tribulation for the faith, believers become complacent and lazy and ineffective. They go to places where there are like minded people and where no one will criticize or ridicule them for their beliefs. And therefore, the Gospel is discussed among believers and not shared effectively with the unsaved masses. Perhaps believers need to study the life of Paul and strive to become more like him. He was like Jesus in that he was obedient to God, he was not afraid of opposition, and he was willing to die for what he believed. What are you willing to sacrifice for the ministry of Jesus? What are you willing to die for?
Verses 26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
What is the mystery Paul is writing about in the verses above? Ephesians 3:4-6 explains it fully. “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” The ‘riches’ is referring to all that a believer receives of the LORD by faith, including the promise of eternal life in Heaven. Up until the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus, all of Biblical history revolved around the nation Israel and the Hebrew people. The Jews of Jesus’ day felt that they were superior to all other peoples and disapproved of Jesus, who is God very God, talking to or teaching non Jews. They viewed them as having the value of cattle and therefore as not worthy of any attention. So Jesus was revolutionary in His thinking, teaching and conduct in that He interacted with and treated all people equally well with kindness and love.
Application: Believers cannot discriminate against people because of their beliefs, their culture, their country of origin, their sex or age, or their financial status. A person cannot be a Christian and say that they are like Christ if they do not love and treat everyone the same. Believers are known by their fruits (their good works, their good words, their good behavior) and by their love for one another.
Verses 28-29 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1)
Believers are to preach, warn and teach every one with whom they are in contact. By preaching the Gospel, people learn the truth of God’s Word. Then they understand the warning about sin, death and Hell. If they repent, they then need to be taught the Word of God so that they can understand the love and character of God and understand what is expected of them by God now that they are living in the world through the flesh and living in His spiritual kingdom through their spirit and the Holy Ghost living inside of them.
Application: It is the presence of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) in each believer that enables them to work in some manner for Jesus. No believer can have a ministry that is dependent upon their efforts only. It will fail. But when a believer trusts in the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Ghost, their ministry will be just right and fruitful. Guaranteed!